Decoding the hidden meanings behind car logos

When a manufacturer decides on their brand name, it usually gold-seals its identity with a logo. But do you know why Alfa Romeo’s badge depicts a snake eating a man? Or why Ferrari uses a yellow background behind its prancing horse emblem?

Here we decode the subtexts in 10 of the most famous car manufacturer logos…

Audi

The four interlocking rings on Audi’s internationally-recognised emblem, relate to when the firm joined forces with three other brands in 1932 – DKW, Horch and Wanderer.

Hyundai

The italicised H is more than just the Hyundai initial – it’s actually intended to represent the handshake between two people who are making a deal.

BMW

The German manufacturer’s blue and white logo represent the colours of the Bavarian Free State. The colours are reversed, as at the time of the brand’s inception it was illegal to use national symbols in commercial trademarks.

Mitsubishi

The three-point symbol of Japanese brand Mitsubishi, combines founder Yatarō Iwasaki’s family crest and the crest of the Yamauchi family – leaders of the Tosa clan, who controlled the town Iwasaki.

Alfa Romeo

The split Alfa logo features a red cross on its left side, symbolising Milan, and what appears to be a snake eating a man on the right. However, this symbol of the Visconti family actually depicts a man being reborn from the snake’s mouth.

Ferrari

The yellow background behind the black prancing horse represents Ferrari’s hometown of Modena. The mother of WWI pilot Francesco Baracca is behind the horse emblem, prompting Enzo Ferrari to use the symbol that brought good luck on a jet flown by her son.

Rolls Royce

The original ‘Spirit of Ecstasy’ is thought to be actress Eleanor Thornton, who modelled for a sculpture called ‘The Whisperer’. When Lord Montagu of Beaulieu requested a custom logo for his Rolls-Royce, this was the inspiration – and it was such a hit that Rolls-Royce commissioned it for all of its cars.

Porsche

This coat of arms logo combines elements from Western Germany’s Free State of Württemberg and the former capital, Stuttgart, where Porsche’s headquarters is located.

Mercedes

When the Daimler-Benz brand launched in 1926, the German firm had plans for world domination, and its instantly-recognisable three-point star reflects plans to master air, land, and sea.

Subaru

The six stars in the Subaro emblem represent the Seven Sisters constellation. The cosmic arrangement is also known as the Pleiades, which is “Subaru” in Japanese.